Halloween Biscuiteers

Halloween is nearly over for another year - the candles have gone out in the pumpkins, the apple bobbing is done (my favourite game as a child), the trick or treating swag eaten - but I couldn't resist these from the Biscuiteers.

£38.50 for up to 16 biscuits in a tin (plus £3.90 1st class recorded), £30 for up to 9 biscuits in a tin (plus £3.40 1st class recorded).

Mrs Osborn Goes on a spree to Edinburgh - Dazzle jewellery

Back in August I went to Edinburgh, and I found Dazzle, tucked away in George Square on the stairway of the main lecture hall, showcasing and selling some great jewellery.

Gold and silver seed-poddish-ness from Victoria Walker: I especially like these poppy earrings , £140.

Sue Gregor uses acrylic to 'fossilise' leaves, like this passion flower plant complete with those wiggly things that look like uncoiled biro springs. Cuff, £45.

When I first saw a necklace by Yen , I thought it was by Georg Jensen - simple, classic and lots of silver coolth. This is a bracelet from the molecule range, £854, made up of tiny movable parts which gives it fluidity and makes it very tactile.

Grainne Morton based in Edinburgh makes jewellery using charms and buttons.

Bracelet with 9 coloured buttons £242; 13 coloured buttons £303.

Tatty Devine brooch and Rob Ryan card celebrating 10 years of Mimi

As regular readers will know I am a *huge* fan of Mimi's bags and purses. Mimi started out in Spitalfields Market ten years ago - she then moved to Cheshire Street, and now has a showroom in Bethnal Green.

To celebrate a decade of Mimi's beautifully designed and made handbags, Rob Ryan has designed a card, and Tatty Devine has designed a brooch featuring Mimi and her lurcher dog Dora (who is every bit as elegant as Mimi, and her handbags).  The brooch (£42) will be on sale at Tatty Devine in Mimi's pop-up Christmas shop during November and December.

Tatty Devine, 236 Brick Lane, London E2 7EB - pop-up shop open 10th November to 31st December.

Notebooks from Bookery

These notebooks by Bookery from the Ebb & Flow range are exactly what I have been looking for  because I always have at least one notebook on the go (for work, and other suchlike) and it's handy to keep them together. The Ebb & Flow is a handmade nubuck leather cover for two A6 hand printed and hand stitched notebooks.
The notebooks below are printed with 'Words' and 'Sketches', £49.

Ebb & Flow is available in a range of colours, and different words:  Work & Play (pink and purple), Here & There (blue), Inside & Outside (green), Ideas & Plans (red). Bookery also sells refill notebooks, but I reckon you could use one from Muji or any other stationnery shop instead.

Bookery, based in Cockpit Arts Studios, London, also makes two-way hand stitched notebooks (12 x 21 cm) out of recycled paper (£16) and A6 notebooks in a range of colours (£6).

Zatchels

The search for the perfect satchel continues. If you are looking for old-school style satchels, how about these from Zatchels.

Red metallic satchel to match those ruby slippers you have.

Navy polka dot for, erm, dotty moments?

Classic colours such as this brown, which I remember from back in the day (the 70s), are also available.

Available in 4 sizes: the handy guide on their website tells you that if you want to carry your iPad you will need an 11.5" satchel; iPad plus other clobber goes in a 13"; an A4 notepad / ringbinder fits in a 14.5", and if you want to take your  (15") laptop you will need a 16" satchel.

Prices range from £76 for the smallest satchel, in a classic colour, to £120 for the largest size (handles and detachable strap can be added, at extra cost).

Here's what Zatchels, based in Leicester, say about themselves:

We are keen to promote British manufacturing because unfortunately many of these long held traditional skills are being lost to overseas competition. However, we’re standing firm and believe that the beautiful hand-made satchels and bags we produce here, right in the heart of the UK, are something we can be very proud of.

And that is why I love them. Simple.

(See also the Cambridge Satchel Company for traditional satchels, blogged about here.)

Sophia & Matt - make up bag

This was very handy for my summer holidays, made by the lovely Sophia & Matt of Greenwich, previously blogged about here - just the right size for the lotions and potions needed on a short trip.

Craft Council Origin at Old Spitalfields Market - September 2011

A few things from Origin in September - my top pick: new company Urban Chintz - silk scarves and shawls digitally printed with images of contemporary glass and steel Tokyo architecture and floral details. Great mix of jewel colours with acid brights. (despite the digital printing, and my quest is handmade things, I've blogged about it because I heart all things architecture-y)

This gold stag beetle by Lucy Sylvester took my fancy, especially as it looks like it was cast from a real live *dead* beetle - imortalised forever in 18ct gold plated silver, 16" or 18" chain. £270.
All items hand made to order in her Oxfordshire studio.

Something to satisfy my need for jewellery featuring little birds, by Alison Haddon

Christian O'Reilly's Alice chair, originally designed for his wife (who has a lower back injury) - how lovely to have a piece of furniture made to measure for you; almost as good as having your beloved build you a folly. Christian O'Reilly is based in Cornwall - all pieces are made using sustainably managed UK and European hardwood.

Overall, Origin seemed to have an exhibition vibe which may have been the intention of the organisers, although I think this was enhanced by some maker-designers not keen on photos being taken (I can understand this from a copyright perspective)...punters were politely looking at at all the beautifully crafted goodies, but I wonder how much was sold..?